[aaajaws]

They are a brand off of the Carrier line. Never heard of them are the any good ?

I was offered a heat pump 14 seer 1 stage at a good price but is Grandaire a good reliable brand ?

 

[user_12345a]

Appears to be icp which yes is owned by and very similar to carrier and some are basically identical.
Have to get model number to see what you're getting as they have both cheaper builders units and more premium ones.

Most important aspects are sizing and install, there is much to screw up -> find a reputable contractor by word of mouth - positive internet reviews can be fakes.
Across different brands there aren't that major differences when looking at basic single stage heatpumps, many share the same compressors and fan motors.

Probably biggest difference is defrost controls - demand vs timed. Timed results in a lot of unecessary defrost cycles, demand is better. To my knowledge lennox, rheem and trane use demand most others use timed.

 

[aaajaws]

I have had 5 different HVAC companies Trane Rheem/Rudd and Lenox all $10K plus the The GrandAire guy comes in at $4200 3.5 ton Heatpump installed. I'm like at that price did it fall off the back of the truck ?????

1900 Sqft 3/2 rancher in SW Florida 30 year old single pane glass with big slider glass doors currently has a 20 year old TRANE system

 

[user_12345a]

I have had 5 different HVAC companies Trane Rheem/Rudd and Lenox all $10K plus the The GrandAire guy comes in at $4200 3.5 ton Heatpump installed

being in florida you don't need to worry about defrost control type.

You need actual model numbers to compare as it is not fair to compare a lennox elite for example to a icp performance series.

Beware of bids that are well below average. $10k though is a lot.

i wouldn't upsize above 3 ton without load calculation confirming you need more.

it's more important to control humidity in florida than to hit an exact thermostat setpoint in extremes. both for air quality and comfort.

Today's higher seer units as is take longer for the indoor coil to get cold enough to dehumidify at beginning of the cycle compared to a old 10 to 12 seer. worst thing to do in humid climate is go big - compounding the issue.

 

[aaajaws]

Gotcha Thanks yes understand about the apples to apples and model numbers or series . And yes Humidity is the killer here . and I'm not even here in the summer. But someday maybe Oh I had 2 bids at $12k ... and they told me I was getting a deal ...!!! but sounding like maybe better to stay with the 3 ton .

 

[djgkdg]

I was offered a heat pump 14 seer 1 stage at a good price but is Grandaire a good reliable brand ?

My understanding is that 14 seer can not be legally installed in florida anymore. Possibly part of the reason for better price

 

[user_12345a]

My understanding is that 14 seer can not be legally installed in florida anymore. Possibly part of the reason for better price

back before seer2 a more strict standard, 14 was the minimum for the south.

south-east now requires 14.3 seer2.

it's important to get full model numbers of indoor and outdoor sections.

 

[yuri]

Whenever the SEER rating changes the wholesalers and dealers are allowed to sell their existing stock. But they cannot get the lower SEER units anymore so yeah the price eventually goes up. Also they may not qualify for any energy rebates from the POCO if the rating has increased.

 

[Head_Unit]

I have had 5 different HVAC companies Trane Rheem/Rudd and Lenox all $10K plus the The GrandAire guy comes in at $4200 3.5 ton Heatpump installed.

Is this JUST changing out the heat pump? You have a heat pump now? Is the ducting being reworked? I'll tell ya if so be damn sure that RIGID ducting is specified in the contract. I did not think about it and now have that hose-like stuff, grrrrr. Sucks.
I'd also ask the GrandAire guy "why are you so much cheaper"? I did once have a guy offer me a pretty new furnace pulled out of another house.

 

[user_12345a]

Is this JUST changing out the heat pump? You have a heat pump now? Is the ducting being reworked? I'll tell ya if so be damn sure that RIGID ducting is specified in the contract. I did not think about it and now have that hose-like stuff, grrrrr. Sucks.
I'd also ask the GrandAire guy "why are you so much cheaper"? I did once have a guy offer me a pretty new furnace pulled out of another house.

For $4 to $5k it would have to be a change-out, not new ductwork.

New ductwork and making it rigid metal would drastically increase the cost, I would guess at least $15k and possibly $20k.